Method and apparatus for heating a liquid



Dec. 28 1926.

R. W. BROWN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING A LIQUID Filed August 17. 1923 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY W. BROWN, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 OHIO.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HEATING A LIQUID.

Application .file'd August 17, 1923. Serial No. 657,994.

' This invention relates to a heating apparatus and particularly to an apparatus for heating water or other fluids.

The invention is herein shown as embodied in an apparatus for heating water for use 1n a tire vulcanizing apparatus in which the tires are subjected to external and internal heat and pressure, but the invention in many of its features is not limited to use in connection with apparatus of this type.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to cure pneumatic tires upon a water filled bag in preference to the cast iron cores commonly used, the water serving as a medium to carry heat to the inner layers of the tire, as well as supplying the necessary internal pressure. Many difliculties have arisen, however, in the use of the water cure, due chiefly to variations in temperature of the water when it enters the tires, and the inability of known apparatus to'preclude against such variations.v

A general object of this invention is to provide a heating system in which water will be raised to the desired temperature and automatically maintained thereat until its ontrance into the tires. s a

A further object of this invention is to provide a heating apparatus'in which water may be raised to extremely high temperatures in an etiicientand economic manner.

In a further aspect the invention provides a novel method oi producing super-heated water. 1

T hose and other features of the invention and the novel method referred to will appear more fully from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings; an example of the invention lS'ShOWIl in operative ard construction. The steam jacket is connect-ed by a pipe 8 to a main steam line, shown at 10. A pipe 12 connected at one end to the steam jacket at 14 and at the other to a steam trap 16 conducts the steam from the steam acket in a manner clearly understood.

From the preheater A the water is conducted to the after-heater B by a conveying pipe 18 connected to the Water pipe 2 by a short pipe 20, the pipe 18 communicating with the bottom of the after-heater. The after-heater-B is substantially cylindrical in shape and contains a water chamber'22. The bottom 24 of the heater B is elevated above the floor by means of a supporting block 26 to facilitate the attachment of the water pipe 18. Within the heater B is arranged a spiral coil 28 through which the heating medium.

preferably steam, is conducted. The upper end of the coil 28 is connected to a pipe 30 extending through the top 32 of the heater, the pipe 30 forming an extension of the main steam supply line 10. The lower end of the coil 28 extends through the bottom of the heater and is connectedby. a pipe 34 .to a steam trap 36. Within the heater B are arranged any number of baffle plates 38, three being shown, the top and bottom plate being provided with a. central opening 40 and the middle plate with side openings 42, the effect of the plates being to cause the water to flow ina zigzag path through the heater.

Extending through the top of the heater B and communicating with the water chamber 22 therein is a pipe 44 forming part of the conduit line between the heater and the vulcanizing chamber 0. The pipe 44 is connected to a distributing pipe 46 within the into the tires will now be described.

A temperature controller 56 is provided to automatically control the temperature of the water in the preheater A. To this end the controller is connected by a tube 58 to a diaphragm valve 68 suitably placed along the steam inlet pipe 8. Extending within the water outlet pipe 20 is a thermostatic bulb 70 connected to the controller through a capillary tube 72. The controlling instrument is of standard construction and a detailed description thereof is not necessary. Sutfice it to say-that when the temperature of the water as it flows past the thermostatic bulb varies from a predetermined point, the

controller 56 will cause the operation of the diaphragm valve 68 to open or close the amount necessary to bring the water entering the heater to the desired temperature.

It will be appreciated, however. that a temperature controlling system of this type will not maintain the temperature of the water always constant, a condition which this invention is designed to bring about. This is due largely to the fact that the water within the heatenat the time of the operation of the controller will not be affected by the increase or decrease in the flow of steam, and, therefore, will not be brought to the predetermined temperature.

Located at a convenient point along the water pipe 18 is a circulating pump 74 through which the water flows on its way 'to the after-heater B. The circulating pump is driven at a constant speed and usual i thermostatic through an opening 86 into the water chamserves to force the water through the afterheater at a predetermined velocity.

- A second controlling instrument 7 6, simihit in construction and operation to the controller 56, is rovided for controlling the temperature within the after-heater B. A diaphragm valve 7 8 is provided in the steam inlet pipe 30, the valve being operated by the instrument through a tube 80. A capillary tube 82 extends from the instrument 7 6 to the afterheater and is provided with" the bulb 84 extending her. 22. The bulb 84 is sopositioned, in the length of the water chamber that variations in the temperature of the water from the. desired point as it passes the bulb will be corrected by the time the water reaches the top tance from the bulb to the to' of the heater, the speed of, the water an the distance traveled being constant.

In order to withdraw the water which remains in the heater above the thermostatic bulb after the tires have been filled for one vulcanization and which, of course, will cool off by radiation, a pipe 90 is attached to the outlet pipe 44 near the point of juncture of the latter with the pipe 48. The pipe 90 extends downwardly and connects with the pipe 18, from which the water therein is again forced through the after-heater by the circulating pump 74.

Suitable check valves 92 and 94 are provided in the pipes 20 and 90 respectively to keep the water flowing in the proper direction throu h the circuit.

While t e operations of the component parts of the heating 5 stem have been set forth in the foregoing escri tion, they may be summarized briefly as f0 lows:

In passing through the prehea'ter A, the

water is raised to a temperature approximately that finally desired. In the after a heater the water. is superheated and raised to the exact temperature reqluired, being retained thereat by the circu ating pump and the controlling instrument 56. Therefore, when the water enters the vulcanizing apparatus itv has a uniform temperature throughout, a prerequisite to the production of an even and thorough cure of the inner layers of the tire.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of two independent heating units, means for conducting a fluid through the said units, and tem erature controlling devices for automatica ly controllingthe temperature of thevliquid in each'. unit.

2. In a device of the class described, having in combination, two independent heating units, means for conducting a liquid through each unit successively, and means for automatically raising the liquid to a predetermined temperature before it leaves the second heater.

3. In a device of the class described, havin in combination, two independent heating units, means for conducting a liquid in a continuous stream through the heaters, means for automatically controlling the temperature of one of said heaters, and means for, raising the fluid-to a constant temperature before it leaves the other heater.

L A device of the character described. having in combination, two independent heating units, means for conducting a fluid means for circulating the water continuous- 1y through the other.

5. A device of the character described having in combination, a heating unit, means for conducting a fluid through the unit, means for automatically controlling the'temperature of the heating unit, a second heating unit, means for conducting the liquid from the first heating-unit through the second, and means controlled by the temperature of the water at one point in the second heater forbringing the liquid to a constant temperature before it leaves the said second heater.

6. A device of the character described, having in combination, two independent heating units, means for conducting a liquid through each unit in succession, and means for forcing the liquid through one of said heaters at a constant speed.

7. A device of the character described, having in combination, two independent heatin units, means for conducting a liquid throng each of said units in success on, means for forcing the liquid through one of said heaters at a constant speed, and means controlled by the fluid for brin ing the fluid to a constant temperature be ore it passes through the said heater.

'8. A device of the class described, having in combination, a steam coil, means for conlug conducting the liquid; through a heating ducting a liquid through the coil, means for automatically controlling the temperature of the said coil, a heating chamber, a pipe for-conducting. the liquid from the coil to i theheating chamber, a circulating pump connected with said pipe, means for raising -the temperature of the liquid to a constant.

temperature beforeleaving the heatin chamber, means for conducting the liqui from the chamber, and means for leading some of the fluid back to the circulating p r- 9. A process of heatin a liquid comprising conducting the liquid through two heat-- ing'units, and returning some of to one of the heaters.

the iquid 10. A process of heating a liquid comprisunit, leading the liquid to a second heating unit, and forcing the liquid through the second unit at a constant speed.

11. A process of heating a liquid comprising heating the liquid, leading the heated liquid to a heating chamber, forcing the liquid through the chamber at. a constant speed, and returning some of the liquid. to the heating chamber.

I 12. A process for vulcanizing rubber articles comprising conducting afluid through two heating units, returning some of the fluid to one of said units and passing the fluid from said unit about said articles.

13. A process for vulcanizing rubber articles comprising'conducting a liquid through one heating unit, leading the liquid to a second heating unit, forcing the liquid through the second unit at a constant speed and passing 'the liquid from said second unit about said articles.

14. A process for vulcanizing rubber articles comprising heating a liquid, leading the liquid to a heated chamber, forcing theliquid through the chamber at a constant speed, returning some of the liquid to the chamber and passing the liquid from said chamber about said articles.

15. A- process for vulcanizing rubber articles comprising preheating a liquid while controlling the temperature thereof to be substantially uniform and adjacent the temperature required for vulcanization of said articles, further heating said liquid while separately controlling its temperature to be substantially uniform'and at the temperazation while maintaining'said tem erature uniform within a comparatively wi e range 01 variation, further heating said 1i uid to the temperature of vulcanization w ile maintaining said temperature uniform within a comparatively narrow range of variation and supplying said liquid to said water bags. v

17. Apparatus for the class described comprising, in combination, a. vulcanizer,

means for supplying a curing medium to the vulcanizer, a preheater through which the curing medium is first conducted, means for controlling the temperature of the medium delivered from, said preheater, an afterheaterthrough which the medium is con-- ducted, and means for'controlling the temperature of the medium delivered by'the after-heater to said vulcanizer.

18. Apparatus for vulcanizing rubber articles comprising the combination, with a vulcanizer and means for supplying a curing fluid thereto of apreheater adapted to heat said fluid approximately to curing tempera ture, an after-heater for further heating said fluid, and. means for controlling said afterheater so thatafluid delivered thereby will be accurately and uniformly maintained at.

a required temperatureof vulcanization.

ROY W.,.BROWN. I 

